Do these before the season starts so you're not scrambling when a storm forms.

0/10

Photograph every dock, seawall, and boat lift from 4 angles + close-ups of piling caps, decking, and lift straps.
Review your homeowners + flood + boat/lift insurance policies. Confirm dock coverage limit and separate deductibles.
Locate your elevation certificate. If you don't have one, get one — it directly affects insurance and rebuild rules.
Inspect boat lift cables/straps. Anything frayed, corroded, or older than 5 years — replace before June.
Torque-check every cleat, ring, and tie-down. Replace corroded hardware with 316 stainless.
Trim overhanging branches away from dock and boat lift zones.
Torque all bolt-through hardware — anything loose becomes a projectile in 100 mph winds.
Stock a labeled storm kit: extra straps, marine-grade line, pool noodles, waterproof labels, wire cutters, marine goop.
Save your insurance claims phone number in your phone contacts — labeled 'HURRICANE CLAIMS'.
Save contact info for your dock builder, seawall contractor, boat lift service tech, and marine electrician.

Named storm in the Gulf/Atlantic. Time to make real decisions.

0/6

Check the National Hurricane Center forecast — commit to a plan when the cone puts you in the 5-day window.
Boat decision: haul out, evacuate, or ride it out on the lift? For CAT 3+ tracks, haul out is almost always the right call.
If the boat stays: drain fuel to 1/4 tank (lighter is safer if the lift fails).
If evacuating boat: reserve dry storage or a truck now — availability disappears at 48h.
Start moving everything unbolted off the dock: chairs, ladders, cleats-on-ropes, hoses, floats.
Charge storm cameras / phones / power banks. Doorbell cams can capture surge for insurance.

Hurricane warning in effect. Finish the checklist — you're out of time for major moves.

0/9

Raise the boat lift to maximum height + strap the boat to the cradle at 4+ points.
Remove canvas covers, bimini tops, and anything with wind area. Store inside.
Seal boat: close hatches, tape vents, lock cabin, tie down cushions.
Add double lines to any docked boat. Include spring lines and long lines for surge slack.
Storm plug: pull the drain plug so surge water can drain out instead of filling the hull.
Kill battery switches on the boat. Disconnect trickle chargers.
Strap loose deck boards down if you're pre-2020 wood construction — modern construction shouldn't need this.
Final pre-storm photos of the entire dock/lift/seawall. Timestamp is everything for insurance.
Follow your evacuation zone order. No dock is worth staying for a Cat 3+.

Do these in order. Don't skip step 1.

0/8

STOP: don't step on the dock until you've inspected pilings from land. A partially failed dock can collapse under weight.
Do not touch dock electrical panels until a marine electrician has verified them dry and safe.
Photograph EVERYTHING before you touch anything. Wide shots + close-ups + serial numbers of damaged equipment.
File your insurance claim within 48 hours — don't wait for adjusters to be available.
Beware storm-chasing contractors going door-to-door. Only work with licensed FL contractors verifiable at MyFloridaLicense.com.
Get a structural assessment before any repair. A dock that 'looks fine' can be shifted or cracked at the pilings.
If repair cost exceeds 50% of pre-storm value, you'll be required to rebuild to current code (BFE, wind, elevation). Understand this before signing anything.
Do only the temporary repairs needed to prevent further damage. Don't do 'quick' permanent work — you may lose insurance coverage.

Hurricane Readiness Checklist